The Business of Beauty | Cloud Nine Soap Co.

When All Else Fails, Take A Bath: Rescue Bath Soak

I've been fighting off the flu for a week now, and this bath soak has been a life saver. You don't need to spend a fortune on bath soaks and salts, you can make your own with a few simple ingredients.

Lisa's Rescue Bath Soak

1 1/2 cups dead sea salt
1 cup epsom salt
1/2 cup of "Real" brand salt or grey celtic sea salt
1/8 cup of bentonite clay
10-20 drops lavender essential oil
10-20 drops frankincense essential oil

Place all dry ingredients in a large bowl, mix to blend. Drizzle essential oils into the batch and mix well with hands. Store in a tightly sealed mason jar.

To Use:
Add 1/4 - 1/2 cup of salt soak to a hot bath. Soak for 20 minutes.

Relax. Inhale. Enjoy.

November 01, 20190 Comments

8 Way To Relax Before Bed To Wake Feeling Refreshed

If you haven't established a bedtime routine, now would be a great time to think about doing so. Established routines lead to good habits. A healthy sleep habit is one of the best things you can do all around for your body, and your skin.

These 8 things are simple ways to insure a good nights sleep, which is mandatory for optimal health and contributes to glowing skin.

Disconnect from all electronic devices at least one hour before bedtime. And for God's sake, do not check your work email.
Limit alcohol intake. Try a cup of hot tea instead.
Take a bath. Use a few drops of scented bath oil or essential oil, light a candle.
Apply a moisturizer from head to toe to hydrate and protect your skin.
Change your pillowcase. You know that wonderful feeling you get when...
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May 03, 20170 Comments

Why Taking A Bath Has Magical Healing Power

A bath sets the stage for you to tap into the ancient healing power of water, the primal and sensuous comfort that water provides. Water is essential for physical and emotional well-being. The simple pleasure of a bath might be just the medicine you need.

Water, together with Earth, Wind and Fire is one of the four basic elements that represent the substance of the entire world. Water connects our bodies to the earth. Water is the central source to all beings: human, animal, plant and earth. Every cell, every fiber is made up of water. And perhaps water is what connects us all?

Rather than rushing through another quick shower, try creating an oasis tub-side and take a bath. Light a candle, play soothing music, draw a warm bath and infuse the water with fragrant oils and relaxing salts. Close and lock the door...

April 04, 20170 Comments

A DIY Body Oil Recipe That Keeps Skin Hydrated All Day

Here's an uncomplicated recipe for a lovely DIY Body Oil. Leave the oil unscented or add essential oils to it for an aromatic treat to fit your mood; if you want to relax try lavender, if you'd like something uplifting try sweet orange or peppermint, and if you're looking to soothe tired or sore muscles try rosemary or eucalyptus. Body oil is best applied right after stepping out of the shower or bath, while skin is still damp to lock in moisture all day.

Body Oil

5 oz. of light, non-staining oil such as avocado, sweet almond, or sunflower. (Choose one oil or a blend of oils).
2 oz. jojoba oil
1 tsp. natural vitamin E oil
40-80 drops of a single note essential oil or a blend of essential oils

Drop the essential oil into an 8...
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March 28, 20170 Comments

The Bathroom Is A Secret Haven of Self Absorption

Mark Hampton was a famous 20^th century Interior Designer to the American elite, including the likes of President and Mrs. George Bush and Estee Lauder. He was best known for creating rooms that were comfortable and inviting. Mr. Hampton said that of all the decorating and remodeling projects a person undertakes in their lifetime, the bathroom is the most taxing because bathrooms “provide a place for private pampering, for a sybaritic mood that might otherwise be frowned upon. Hidden from the scrutiny of others, these rooms are secret havens of self-absorption”

Bravo.

Showers are for convenience. They’re practical. But the bath tub? Bathing is an oasis. The ritual of bathing has nothing to do with cleanliness; tub bathing is a simple luxury that requires nothing more than a commitment to yourself to take care of you. Once hooked, tub time becomes sacred time where the...
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April 19, 20160 Comments

How Is Lotion Made?

I thought this might be a great time to talk to you about what a body lotion or cream actually is. Some lotion/cream cosmetic makers do not create from scratch, they purchase a commercially made “lotion base” to which they simply stir in fragrance. Nothing wrong with this, but I do not consider this an Artisan-made product for which I’d pay top dollar. I create my lotion from scratch in 30 bottle batches.

In a nutshell: Water + Oil + Emulsifier + Preservative = Lotion or Cream.

Both “lotion” and “cream” are made using the same process, the differentiator is in the percentage of water used in the recipe, which determines its viscosity.

Less water = thicker product, a cream.
More water = thinner product, a lotion.

Handcrafted lotion makers add all sorts of goodies to the above...
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April 13, 20164 Comments

Here's Why You Have Dry Skin And What To Do About It

Do you have dry, flaky skin? It's common when the seasons are changing. And almost a sure thing in the Winter months when we are required to turn on the furnace; we experience an increase in dry, itchy skin.

Dry skin is almost always just dead skin cells sloughing away or needing to be removed because we are shedding our top layer of skin every second of every day. The medical term for the process of cell turnover is "desquamation" (des-kwa-MA-shun) and it's a completely natural process in which skin cells are created, sloughed away and replaced. In a 24 hour period you shed a million dead skin cells!

Helping remove that flaky top layer of skin is what is referred to in the beauty industry as "exfoliation" and it's the magic ticket to glowing skin. The billion dollar cosemetic industry does not want you...
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October 21, 20150 Comments

BEAU-TY

BEAU-TY (bu-tee) 1. The quality that gives pleasure to the mind or senses and is associated with properties such as excellence, truthfulness and originality.

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March 19, 20150 Comments

Milk Soaps

Skin care does not begin after you step out of the shower, skin care starts in the shower. I love milk soaps for that reason.

Milk based soaps, which have been around for centuries, are very kind to the skin. You may find that you need less moisturizer after switching to a milk soap, which leaves skin feeling and looking softer and healthier.

Why milk? The chemistry of milk tells the story. Fat molecules are an important part of making good soap and milk is loaded with natural cream. The pH of goats milk is very close to the pH of human skin, a controversial topic, but I believe a fact that helps make goats milk soaps naturally gentle without the need for chemical additives. The milk contains lactic acid, an alpha-hydroxy and a natural exfoliant that promotes the shedding of...
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January 15, 20150 Comments

Save Your Soap

Keep soap up out of standing water. Unlike commercial soap, handmade soap contains all of its natural glycerin and will get mushy/melt if left in standing water. Keep your soap on a soap dish or in a soap sack.

Buy soap ahead of time. Soap actually gets better as it ages. I have soaps that are over three years old and they smell as wonderful as the day I made them. Keep a small stash on hand because handcrafted soap makes a great emergency birthday, thank-you, hostess, holiday, or teacher gift.

Let your soap dry out between uses. Make sure to let your soap dry out between uses. Don't allow your soap to sit in a puddle of water or let the shower mist pour down on it.

Cut that bar in half;...
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January 11, 20150 Comments